By Craig Anderson

NEW CASTLE - As part of its strategic plan to make access to services easier for Delawareans across the state, the Department of Health and Social Services will begin a critical community engagement phase in which the public can weigh in on the kinds of changes they want to see, a news release said.

The news release noted that the department for years has heard about the difficulty Delawareans have in accessing and navigating such services such as general assistance, emergency assistance services, food benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, emergency housing, Medicaid, and more.

“Hearing from the community about their experiences with receiving services is a priority for the department,” said department Secretary Molly Magarik.

“As we embark on improving services and ensuring those services meet the needs of Delawareans across the state, it is critical that we learn about the current experiences and potential solutions from the community.

“This important project will help DHSS create a service delivery system that is easier to access, more integrated, and works for all.”

Delaware Health and Social Services will host community engagement sessions across the state beginning this month. There will be interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and more. The goal is to hear about people’s experiences with state services, which will be used to make those services more effective for all, the news release said.

For more information on the program, visit de.gov/community.